Paramedic interns working solo at NSW ambulance stations

A union representing paramedics has raised concerns that some New South Wales stations are being staffed entirely by interns.

The Emergency Medical Services Protection Association says some of its intern members have reported that at times they are left to staff a station alone.

The association's president Wayne Flint says interns being left alone is more common in remote and regional areas where it is difficult to attract experienced staff.

He says it is a potentially dangerous situation for both patients and the interns themselves.

"The concern is they're inexperienced. There's a great bunch of interns out there that are on the road at the moment," Mr Flint said.

"They're honing their skills and they're developing their skills. The position they are being placed in at the moment though is that in a lot of cases they won't have mentors that have the experience.

"They might have the academic achievements to support their position but actually having the experience to walk into some of these locations, particularly in the early days, it's better for them to have mentors with them."

State Opposition spokesman Andrew McDonald also believes it is an unacceptable situation.

"To have intern paramedics dealing with high speed car accident by themselves is down right dangerous," Dr McDonald said.

"This is what happens when you cut $3 billion out of the health system. You've got dangerous patient care and a Health Minister refusing to take responsibility for it."

'Nothing unusual' about unsupervised interns

The Ambulance Service of NSW insists there is nothing unusual about having unsupervised interns on duty.

Spokesman Mark Beesley says interns are more than trainees and patients are in safe hands.

"Paramedic interns have already been with the service for 12 months," he said.

"They've worked at large regional and metropolitan stations and experienced a wide range of cases including... some hostile situations, major motor vehicle crashes and cardiac episodes.

"The community of NSW, particularly in regional [areas], can have confidence and faith in the paramedics that tend to them that they can deliver the level of care that's needed and they're trained to take control of situations and to be able to manage those situations."